My Dearest Mackenzie by Rachel Blaufeld

 

Frankie Burns, brash and bold on the outside, divorced and scarred on the inside, is determined to figure out what really happened with her Paps and his long-lost love, Rosie. Understanding why the duo didn’t find their happily-ever-after is her biggest mission. With every inch of her five-foot-two frame, she’s determined to discover why they were separated and forced to live a life without one another, convinced it will fix her own unhappiness. Mackenzie Miller, handsome, rich, and one of New York’s most eligible bachelors, keeps everyone at an arm’s length and believes the only barometer to happiness is how wealthy and powerful he becomes. Shoving back his grandmother Milly’s wishes for him to find an everlasting love, he is successful in every other area of life. Abandoned by his mother, fairy tales are not part of Mack’s world, but running his makeup and perfume empire is paramount. That is…until a feisty blond woman blasts into his life and won’t accept no for an answer when it comes to looking for a connection between his beloved Milly and her beloved Paps. He doesn’t understand the severity of her search. She needs to know the story to fill a gap in her own life. The twist neither of them expects is falling for one another in the process…

CHRISTY'S REVIEW:

My Dearest Mackenzie is a romance about two people connected by letters. I loved the premise of this one and the fact that the main characters were a little older. 

Mackenzie Miller is a 40 something year old bachelor and plans on staying that way. His grandma who raised him always wanted more for him, but he's content without love in his life. Until a spunky blonde comes barging into his life with letters. He doesn't want anything to do with them, but since they are regarding his beloved grandma who has passed, he eventually gives in. 

Frankie was closer with her Paps than anyone else in her life and before he died, he gave her love letters he received from his first love. They never made it, but she's curious and has to know more. So she finds her grandson and is bound and determined to see if he has any answers. 

I loved watching the journey these two went on to uncover what happened with Jimmy and Milly, but also watching them fall for each other as well. It was sweet and fun with just the right amount of emotion. Mack was a tough nut to crack, but Frankie got him out of his shell. I enjoyed this one lots. 

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ADD on GOODREADS 

5 Stars for Jay McLean's Not Made to Last

 

𝙽𝙾𝚃 𝙼𝙰𝙳𝙴 𝚃𝙾 𝙻𝙰𝚂𝚃 is LIVE!

Don’t miss this emotional, new adult standalone romance!

 

Blurb:

Two simple words hold the truth of our love: wait and hope.

 

Olivia

Rhys Garrett—recent high school graduate, ex-captain of the basketball team, and my brother’s rival both on and off the court.

Oh, and he’s also the guy I just hit with my truck.

Awesome.

To be fair, he had it coming.

Why else was he dressed in all black, in the middle of the night, if not to hide out amongst the darkness?

 

Rhys

I wasn’t looking where I was going or what was around me. I didn’t even see the headlights. Just felt the impact. And I thought, as strange as it was, that getting hit by a car may be the best thing that could’ve happened to me.

Until I opened my eyes…

…and she told me her name.

***

Some might call it fate, destiny, kismet…

A collision of souls.

One night.

One chance encounter.

The problem?

One night wasn’t enough.

But the more time we spent together, the more truths came to light.

And soon, we’d discover that what we once thought was meant to be…

…is not made to last.

ADD to GOODREADS TBR

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CHRISTY'S 5 STAR REVIEW:

Four simple words. A million different emotions. My miracle is you.

At this point in the year, Not Made to Last is my top favorite book of 2024. That's all you really need to know. It’s that good. An emotional, poignant, must-read book! Jay McLean is elite and writes some of my favorite books of all time. If you haven't read her yet, you absolutely must. Now, on to the actual review… 

If you’ve read the ‘Heartache and Hope’ duet, then you know and love Rhys. I was thrilled to see we were getting his story. Olivia and Rhys meet for the first time when she runs into him. Literally. She hits him with her truck. Don’t worry, he’s okay. But he’s stunned stupid by her. Though it’s the first time he meets Olivia, Olivia knows much more about Rhys. 

We all know of and love the brother’s best friend troupe, but what about the brother’s enemy/rival troupe? This is done so well. I say that because you can’t help but love both Rhys and Dom (the brother). Because of this, Olivia knows it’s not the best idea to be spending time with Rhys. But she can’t seem to stay away from him. 

Both Olivia and Rhys are dealing with things. Life is hard. Though on the outside, it seems easy for Rhys, most people don’t look deeper and see what is really going on with him. Olivia knows him better than most and sees past that fun-loving, easygoing facade he has for the world to see. She sees the real Rhys and loves him for who he is. 

Kissing Rhys Garrett is like breathing in sunshine, warming me from the inside, thawing my heart, my soul, until cracks appear in my ice-cold armor.

Jay writes the most lovable characters. They’re flawed and real, and I just want to hug them all. The family dynamic of this book was the most special thing. Honestly, both families. Rhys and Olivia’s. It brought me to tears and gave me all the feels. So emotional in the best way. 

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Jay McLean’s words are magic. She is honestly the most underrated author out there. She has always been one of my favorites, since I read her first book and with each book she writes, it only solidifies that. Not Made to Last is one of those books that will stay with me. The romance is wonderful, but the family dynamic was my favorite part. Ohana means family. Do yourself a favor and pick this book up! You won’t regret it. 

“The family we create means more than the family who created us.”

Review: Wild Card by Staci Hart

 

Wild Card is the rompiest romp of a good time, and just in time for baseball season! Get ready to kick your feet and giggle your way through this spicy small town romantic comedy!

NOW AVAILABLE!!

Kindle Unlimited: https://geni.us/wildcardromcom

Discreet: https://geni.us/wildcarddiscreets

TROPES

⚾️Small Town

⚾️Alpha Hero

⚾️Playboy

⚾️Baseball

⚾️Fake Dating

⚾️”Good girl”

⚾️Bad Boy

⚾️One Bed

⚾️Opposites

⚾️Roommates

***************

The hot baseball player I’m forced to stay with for my best friend’s wedding is off limits.

Remy Winfield has more muscles than manners, and he’s on a mission to get me into bed by way of the filthiest mouth I’ve ever wanted to kiss. He doesn’t care about my long time crush or my certainty that we’re finally about to happen.

Remy's sure I’ll break first and kiss him, and he’ll tease me to the limit to make sure I do. I might be a Lady, but I can still play his dirty little game. It’s perfectly safe, totally harmless.

Until I fall for him.

Suddenly, Mr. Long-Time Crush doesn’t matter at all.

And my best friend can never know.

CHRISTY'S REVIEW

 Well, that was just lovely. I have missed Staci Hart’s words so much. I was thrilled when I saw she had a new release out. Wild Card was delightful. Small-town sports romances… you can never go wrong with those. Add in a bit of opposites attract and forced proximity and I was smitten. 

Jessa comes to Tennessee for her best friend Cass's wedding. Lady Jessamine is coming from overseas to be the maid of honor and somehow ends up getting stuck bunking with Cass’s cousin, Remy. Remy and Jessa couldn’t be more different on the surface but the connection and banter they have will keep a huge smile on your face. 

My favorite part about this story was how Jessa and Remy could be completely themselves with one another. There is nothing better than being able to be your absolute self. Even though it started out as bickering, it soon went to bantering, and these two truly did bring out the best in one another. 

There was a bit of drama and angst and a somewhat predictable (for me) twist toward the end… but the very end... Sigh. It was so dang sweet. I loved this couple together. I love the romance and the swoon Staci writes. My heart is so happy that we are getting more books by this beloved author. I sure hope the next book she writes is Wilder’s.